Coastal Blog

Surfrider Foundation, Orange County Coastkeeper and Californians Against Waste sued the City of Huntington Beach for their bag ban repeal ordinance, which lacked proper environmental review and public engagement, as required by the California Environmental Quality Act.

A glen is "a valley, typically one that is long, deep,...with a watercourse running through it." Surfrider worked with an eco-education non-profit to build a mini-glen that prevents polluted runoff and educates students and the surrounding community.

Hi my name is Sam Blakesley, and I am Surfrider because…the Ocean is a truly magical place, and I want to keep it that way. There is nothing else in the world that brings me bliss like being in the water does, so I feel responsible for ensuring that does…

Surfrider Foundation supports laws that address prevention and response to plastic pollution in our marine environment. Currently, there are several pieces of legislation, at both the state and national level, that address pollution by microbeads, tiny plastic particles that are used in face washes, cosmetics, toothpaste and other products, which…

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U. S. Army finalized the Clean Water Rule today, May 27, 2015, restoring Clean Water Act protections to nearly 20 million acres of wetlands, two million miles of streams, and the drinking water for 117 million Americans.

On May 19, 2015, the popular and pristine beaches of Refugio State Beach were covered by sticky, smelly, black oil. Shockwaves spread through Santa Barbara—a tiny town all too familiar with oil spills. As Santa Barbara once again contends with a catastrophic spill, the memories of the devastating 1969 spill…

UNCW Surfrider College Club member and Youth Leadership Program summer intern Alexandra Brooks shares her experience attending 5th Annual Blue Vision Summit in Washington, DC May 11-14th. This is a 4 part series.

The Surfrider Foundation is pleased to release its 2014 Annual Report for the Blue Water Task Force program. The time and interest that chapters and volunteers continue to dedicate towards monitoring the water quality at their local beaches is truly inspiring, especially as our federal government continues to threaten to…

Surfrider Foundation is deeply dismayed to report that on Tuesday, May 19th nearly 105,000 gallons of oil spilled when a pipeline broke onshore near Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County, resulting in a 4-mile-wide oil slick. This accident is a stark reminder of how dangerous and dirty oil drilling…

On May 11-14th Surfrider staff and four college students from a variety of Surfrider Clubs across the US attend the Blue Vision Summit in DC. Hosted by the Blue Frontier Campaign, the Blue Vision Summit brought together ocean advocates, scientists, and members of industry to discuss ways to advance marine…

On May 12, 2015 the U. S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1732, The Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015. This bill requires the EPA to withdraw their proposed clean water rule and go back to the drawing board. Fortunately, this bill did not receive enough votes to overturn a…

The Santa Cruz Chapter was one of the first Surfrider chapters to establish a BWTF water testing program back in 1993. Over the past 20+ years, the chapter has been building a historical record of water quality information for local beaches and driving campaigns to solve beach pollution problems.

The Marin County Chapter uses its BWTF water testing program to educate local high school students on the science and methodology of water quality monitoring, local water pollution issues, and Surfrider’s mission to protect and enjoy our ocean, waves and beaches.

The South Sound Chapter is providing a great collaborative opportunity through their BWTF water testing program for an educational institution, Surfrider volunteers, and local health agencies to work together to provide better protection for beachgoers and water recreational enthusiasts in Tacoma, Washington.